Question 1

Is Memphis or Nashville cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $374/month less than in Nashville, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,274/mo in Memphis versus $1,730/mo in Nashville.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Memphis vs Nashville?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $60,500/year before tax in Memphis, TN and $68,000/year in Nashville, TN — a difference of about $7,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Memphis or Nashville cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $6,533/month in Memphis and $7,166/month in Nashville, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Memphis or Nashville?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Memphis costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Memphis57	Nashville74
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,530	$3,904
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$6,533	$7,166
Salary for comfort	$60,500/yr	$68,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,274	$1,730
Median home value	$157,100	$383,100
Median household income	$51,211	$75,197
Unemployment	4.7%	2.9%
Housing score	68	46
Jobs score	31	94
Safety score	4	35
Climate score	100	100
Amenities score	47	77
Population	629.1K	684.3K
Summer high / winter low	90° / 30°	89° / 28°

Memphis, TN vs Nashville, TN